News

Queen Strikes Gold at 'Bool'

27th Apr 2013

Racing Victoria - James Tzaferis - Friday, 26 April 2013

Bargain filly set for debut in inaugural VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool

It is fitting that the Terry and Karina O’Sullivan-trained two-year-old filly Dragon Queen makes her racetrack debut in the inaugural VOBIS Gold Strike (1000m) at Warrnambool on Tuesday.

Purchased for a mere $4000 at last year’s Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale, the Soldier’s Tale filly steps out exactly 12 months after she went through the sales ring to contest the fourth event in the lucrative VOBIS Gold race series.

Click here to view a video preview of some of the top lots at this weekend's Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale

The VOBIS Gold Strike offers $100,000 in prizemoney and bonuses to eligible fillies and co-trainer Karina O’Sullivan is hopeful Dragon Queen can belie her modest pricetag in Tuesday’s race.

While not publically seen at the trials, Dragon Queen impressed O’Sullivan in a recent Ballarat jump-out, prompting the Stawell trainer to set her sights on the lucrative race on the opening day of Warrnambool’s May Racing Carnival.

“She is a very quiet horse and she is doing everything right but whether or not she is going to be up to that class first-up we don’t know,” O’Sullivan said.

“She went down to the Ballarat jump-outs a fortnight ago, Nikita McLean rode her and was very happy with her.

“I think she might’ve run second but she was a little bit green turning for home and she still has a bit to learn but we were happy enough with her performance at Ballarat to warrant a run.”

O’Sullivan praised the VOBIS Gold initiative that allows Victorian-bred gallopers to chase massive paydays for connections with lucrative bonuses offered on a host of races throughout the season in addition to the rich five-race race series restricted to VOBIS Gold-eligible juveniles.

Among Dragon Queen’s rivals on Tuesday are unbeaten Matthew Williams-trained local Belatin, last-start Sportingbet Park winner Mezeray Miss and Peter Moody’s untapped daughter of Statue Of Liberty, Spirit’s Dance.

“The VOBIS Gold is certainly what influences you to go to Warrnambool,” the trainer said.

“When we looked around for what races were available, although it’s worth a lot of money and you’re going to meet better horses, we thought she had warranted having a go at this.”

Drawn the carpark (barrier 19) for jockey Jamie Mott, the Stawell horsewoman was drawing on the positives from the barrier and said she would be looking for Dragon Queen to balance up and hit the line at the end of the race.

“I’m not that upset about drawing out a bit with young horses having their first start and I think when you draw in on a baby you’re committed to jump and run with the pack,” O’Sullivan said.

“If you draw out a bit it gives you some time to jump, balance up let the horse get the feel of the race and get their own position.”

Before she makes her way West, O’Sullivan will be inspecting yearlings at this weekend’s Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale, which has replaced the Autumn Yearling Sale, hopeful of finding another bargain buy in the same mould as Dragon Queen.

With support from vendors, Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) and Super VOBIS together with Inglis this inaugural sale will comprise a Select Session of 200 Super VOBIS eligible yearlings on Sunday, followed by a General Session of 147 Super VOBIS and non-Super VOBIS yearlings on Monday.

“We’ll be out there having a look because we’ve got a couple of clients keen to buy,” O’Sullivan said.

More information on VOBIS Gold can be viewed here.

Click here to view the full catalogue of yearlings at this weekend’s Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale